The Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants gave German football fans in Munich an overtime thriller with a happy ending for the Panthers. The team from Charlotte won the NFL guest game in the Allianz Arena thanks to a field goal in overtime with 20:17. In front of 70,132 fans and several guests of honor, Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro became the match winner with a field goal from 36 yards. The Giants, however, who did not feature German professional Jakob Johnson, suffered their eighth defeat in ten games and are increasingly experiencing a season to forget.
«It is a great honor for us. Playing in front of this crowd – I’m absolutely grateful for everyone who supported us,” said Panthers quarterback Bryce Young on RTL after the game. «It’s great to win here. I feel blessed.”
The fans in the arena ensured an atmospheric football festival during the game and after the final kick. They said goodbye to the teams from the field to the sounds of Neil Diamond’s classic “Sweet Caroline” and “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey – without knowing when the NFL will next visit Munich.
Giants with first half to forget
The Panthers, who were nominally the home team, got off to a good start and were able to celebrate their first touchdown after a good seven minutes – Ja’Tavion Sanders caught a pass from quarterback Young. At the beginning of the second quarter, Carolina increased the lead to 10-0 with a field goal from Pineiro. The Giants did practically nothing before halftime: a field goal attempt from 43 yards missed; Later, quarterback Daniel Jones also threw an interception when his pass attempt was deflected and caught by an opponent.
After halftime and a short show by US musician Machine Gun Kelly, the team from New York caught themselves. Tyrone Tracy carried the football into the end zone for the first points. “The boys delivered straight away,” said German Giants professional Johnson on RTL. His teammates have “everything we need” – they just have to implement it in the game.
Johnson as a pretzel supplier and a good-mood bear
The Stuttgart native had been fired by New York several times in the past few months and then rehired. Just before the trip to Germany, coach Brian Daboll brought him back into the training squad. In Munich, the 29-year-old was the Giants’ unofficial tour guide, supplier of butter pretzels and feel-good bear. But he didn’t make it into the matchday squad – and was still mostly grinning in the Allianz Arena.
Johnson and his teammates’ joy at the first touchdown was short-lived. Carolina restored the ten-point lead in the third quarter when star running back Chuba Hubbard also stormed into the end zone with a run. The Panthers went into the final section with a score of 17:7. In this one, quarterback Jones himself ran into the end zone to make it 17:14. Suddenly New York had the chance for a comeback – and thanks to a field goal by Graham Gano with five seconds left, they made it into overtime.
In overtime, the Giants initially had the ball, but lost it early, allowing the Panthers to score the winning field goal.
The most valuable and highest-grossing league in the world was a guest in Munich for the second time after 2022 – back then, quarterback superstar Tom Brady thrilled the audience when his Tampa Bay Buccaneers won against the Seattle Seahawks. It is unclear when the NFL will return to the Bavarian capital – or to Frankfurt, where games were played twice last year.
NFL next year – or even long term? – in Berlin
Next year, Berlin can look forward to a guest appearance by the National Football League: League boss Roger Goodell said in Munich about a report by RTL/ntv that it would be the capital’s turn with the Olympic Stadium in 2025: “Normally I tell people: Believe not the rumors. This time I would say: Believe her!” The deal has not yet been finalized. “But we’re working on it.”
A spokeswoman for the city confirmed that Berlin was interested in long-term cooperation. According to RTL, Berlin wants to invest several million euros. German fans can continue to look forward to visits from the best football league in the world.
